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“That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings,” - Philippians 3:10 Meditations for "Leaders in the Making" is a collection of inspirational writings that addresses the spiritual struggles and hardships unique to those men and women who have answered Jesus' call to take up their cross and follow Him. Each meditation focuses on an attribute of Christ that is being perfected in the leader through testing that draws him/her into a personal (oneness) experience with the risen Savior. (Click the title of the Meditation you'd like to read.) WHEN IT LOOKS LIKE YOU'VE FAILED
Meditations for Leaders in the Making – (Humility) “There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night” –John 3:1-2 There’s much theorizing as to why Nicodemus came to Jesus at night. Was it because it was more convenient for both their schedules; or was it to avoid being seen by fellow Pharisees conversing with the opposition? One thing was evident to Nicodemus, Jesus was sent by God because of the miracles He did. However, the miracles were not enough for Nicodemus to openly support or respond favorably to His ministry in the open when the honorable and prestigious firm he belonged to was vehemently against Him. We’ve all been where Nicodemus was at this point when there is a struggle between the established norm with its fringe benefits, and revealed truth without the frills of life. That’s where Nicodemus was. To acknowledge Christ would be to forsake his office and position with all of its perceived power and prestige within the Sanhedrin in exchange for fellowship with a band of perceived heretics whose leader was the son of a carpenter that drew a following of sinners and publicans. But, like the Apostle Paul after him, Nicodemus counted everything he once valued as dung when in the open he and Joseph of Arimathaea took the bloody body of Jesus (becoming ceremonially unclean) and laid it in the tomb. In your making to be a leader, you will encounter those who like Nicodemus will desperately call upon you in the evening to pray for them, their sick, and wayward love ones; to speak a word of hope from God’s Word to them --- and then when daylight comes, in the midst of their clique, club or mix, they will avoid eye contact with you, they will act as if yesterday evening never occurred. Don’t allow their shame of you (which is actually ashamed of Christ) make you wish you hadn’t ministered to them. Don’t allow bitterness to rob you of the hope that your personal Nicodemus will like his biblical predecessor will one day unashamedly and without fear publicly embraced and declare the truth reveled through you, Christ’s humble servant. MEDITATIONS FOR LEADERS IN THE MAKING (HUMILITY#2) “But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” - Philippians 2:7,8 Whenever I begin to feel I can’t handle being belittled by peers; when I just can’t take being humiliated by the very people God sent me to minister to, and to assist in the work of the ministry; the Holy Ghost brings to my remembrance Philippians 2:7,8. Jesus was so determine to do the will of the Father, that He willingly took the position of a bond-servant, a surrendering of His will in order to accomplish God’s will. And in the process of His submission to God, He had to endure the misconceptions, injustice, humiliation and slander of those He came to minister to. Yet He endured, without faltering, even unto death. Just think about it. Jesus, the creator of everything seen and unseen; Jesus, God incarnate; the “Ancient of Days”; the “I Am that I Am” stepped down into the likeness of man and humbled Himself before the very people He created! At age 12 He humbled himself before His earthly parents and went home with them when He was found in the temple talking with the Doctors and Teachers of the law. At a wedding He humbled himself before His mother and produced wine out of water for the host. He took the insults of misinformed people who called Him a wine bibber and a cohort of prostitutes and publicans. He was labeled by the Pharisees as Mary’s illegitimate child, and at another time they called Him Beelzebub! He was turned over by the Sanhedrin to the Roman government for execution, being falsely accused of being an insurrectionist and blasphemer of the God of Israel (ridiculous! He was the God of Israel!). He was whipped, mocked, slapped, ridiculed and crucified between two thieves as if He was a common criminal. He could have called legions of angels to come to His aid, but He didn’t because pleasing the Father meant death on the cross to deliver you and me from the power and penalty of sin. Following His death and resurrection, many who shunned Him and yelled “crucify Him” became Christians. AS LEADERS IN THE MAKING, your relationship with Christ will be tested and tried in like manner as He was. As a servant of Christ you have access to unlimited help 24 hours a day. For we have not a High Priest who is not touched with the weakness of the flesh. He knows from personal experience what you are feeling and going through as you seek to please the Father. Draw from His strength and know of surety that as you continue to humble yourself before God and man, you are dying to the sinful desires of the flesh. And in the process of your death in the flesh, the new man is being exalted drawing many to become Christians. MEDITATIONS FOR LEADERS IN THE MAKING (Victory over Emotions) “And he went a little further and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.” - Matthew 26:39 Self-defense (self-justification) is a natural response of the flesh when under attack, whether the charges are valid or not. It wasn’t easy for the humanity side of Jesus to face (endure) what was about to happen next as He prayed alone in the Garden of Gethsemane. I imagine He thought of His followers being scattered in fear at His refusal to use His deity to deliver Himself from arrest. It must have looked like He was unable to escape the vengeful power of the Sanhedrin. It had to have been agonizing to foresee the turmoil that would grip the heart and mind of those who believed in Him, and saw Him day after day deliver and set free others, but appear to be unable to help Himself. Even though Jesus knew the end results of His arrest, trial and crucifixion would be victorious, how could He not defend Himself, to reassure those who had put their trust in Him and supported His ministry? Can you imagine the humiliation He knew He would suffer hanging between two thieves as a common criminal before those he had sought to win to the Kingdom of God? All of His sermons on the mount were on trial, that He taught of God’s care and protection for those who would obey and keep His commandments. Where was God now that His so called Son was being murdered at the hands of the Roman Empire and the Religious leaders? “He saved others but can’t save Himself!” “Why don’t you save yourself and us too” shouted one of the thieves on the cross. The adversary, Satan was using every means possible as he did in the wilderness to keep Jesus from completing His mission. “If thou be the Son of God turn these stones into bread.” “If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.” Defend yourself Jesus, if you’re really the Son of God come down off that cross and show me who you really are! Satan wasn’t successful in his tempting of Christ in the wilderness, but just maybe, Satan thought, he would be successful in manipulating Jesus’ love and concern for people to prove His deity and not go to Calvary. As God, Jesus knew the tactics of Satan, and as man He sought strength through prayer not to be a victim to temptation. AS LEADERS IN THE MAKING, we need to apply the command Jesus gave His disciples that night in the garden, “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41). The spirit man’s desire is to do the will of the Father; the flesh man’s desire is to cater to the will of our emotions. During Jesus’ arrest in the garden, Peter succumbed to the desire of the flesh when he cut off the servant’s ear. Throughout our ministry Satan will tempt us to act on our fleshly emotions to thwart God’s plan. But if we follow Jesus’ command in the garden, and the example He left us throughout His ministry on earth to “watch and pray,” and to keep in mind that the spirit man is willing, but the natural man is weak, we will avoid falling into temptation. MEDITATIONS FOR LEADERS IN THE MAKING (SUPERNATURAL FAITH) “And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.” – Matthew 14:29 When the Lord began to call me to take up my cross and lead a section of His flock onto victory in Him, I’d tell myself, “that’s not Jesus calling you, that’s your imagination; you’re a woman, God wouldn’t be calling you to leadership; no one will listen to you, you’re nobody special, whose going to follow you, besides, it’s too much trouble being a leader---too much responsibility----it’s much easier to be a follower, that way you won’t get hurt when people turn on you for speaking what thus said the Lord.” The truth about all my excuses came down to one thing, fear. I was afraid! Suppose I fail, suppose I make a mistake, suppose God didn’t call me, suppose, suppose, suppose! I imagine that’s how Peter felt on that night recorded in Matthew 14:22-33, when Jesus came walking on the water toward them that were on the boat. A night shrouded in darkness, fear, uncertainty; angry waves beating the boat on every side along with howling wind which caused their imagination to accelerate beyond terror. And then, out of nowhere comes a shadowy figure walking on the water toward them saying, “Take courage, it is I.” It’s hard to perceive Jesus calling us to step out in faith when we’re focusing on everything around us that looks hopeless. When Peter responded to Jesus’ call and stepped out of the boat, he walked on the water toward the Master. He did the supernatural, the humanly impossible---he did what Jesus called him to do! He walked on the water! It was only after he took his focus off Jesus and began to look at the “what ifs,” he began to fear. And when fear set in, he began to sink. But hallelujah! Jesus was right there with out stretched arms of victory! As Leaders in the Making, know that when God embeds a call deep within your spirit to walk on water toward Him, He will be right there in the midst. For it is Him that worketh in you to accomplish His good purpose. MEDITATIONS FOR LEADERS IN THE MAKING (UNWAVERING FAITH) "Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me." Matthew 4:8, 9
As God, everything Satan offered Jesus was already His. But as Man, it was not.
In order for Jesus to redeem man of sin and restore his inheritance lost in the garden through Adam, He had to be born of a woman, and live life as a man in obedience to the plan of God. Through the suffering of the cross, all power in heaven and earth (which included the kingdoms of the world and their glory) was given to Him. Satan offered Jesus a short cut to attain what God had promised Him if He would bow down and worship him, but Jesus chose to ". . become obedient unto death, even the death of the cross."
If Jesus had taken Satan’s short cut, we’d still be in bondage today and our inheritance would still belong to Satan.
David faced a similar challenge. As a boy, the prophet Samuel had anointed him God’s choice to succeed Saul as king of Israel. As the favor of Israel moved from Saul (due to Saul's disobedience) and onto the young man David, David became a fugitive ( forced out of his inheritance) pursued by Saul to be killed on sight. Twice King Saul and his men unwittingly placed themselves in a position that was advantageous to David and his men to destroy them. Each time David forbade his men to do Saul or his army harm (1 Sam. 24:4-6; 26:8-10). David’s unwavering faith that God would make him King over Israel prevented him from taking a shortcut to the throne through murder (2 Sam. 2:7; 5:1-5).
If David had taken a short cut to the kingdom, he would have lost the favor of Israel and a civil war would have consumed the nation making it a laughing stock before its enemies instead of a testimony of the true and living God.
AS LEADERS IN THE MAKING you will have a type of King Saul in your life. The test? Will I take what God has promised me through manipulation, schemes and politics, or will I wait (trust) on God to bring His promise to pass? Satan would have us panic and justify using whatever vice necessary to get what’s rightfully ours, however, we must understand, it’s not rightfully ours until God gives it at the fulfillment of our obedience to Him (2 Cor. 10:6). MEDITATIONS FOR LEADERS IN THE MAKING (FORGETTING) ". . .forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 3:13, 14 One of the hardest things we will have to do in our MAKING TO BECOME LEADERS is forgetting. I had finally made it! After 12 years of intensive studies and practical training in a ministry, I received my minister's license in the office of an Evangelist. However, in my fervent pursuit to "know Christ" as a deliverer to substance abusers and a provider to the homeless, I had to relinquish my license. Within the next twelve years, new titles and accomplishments were added to my name: Christian Education Superintendent and Lead Instructor; Program Developer & Trainer for Christian Residential Substance Abuse Programs; Ministry Writer; Honorary Doctorate in Community & Christian Service; Assistant Church Administrator and Executive Secretary to the Apostle; and the most coveted title and office, Associate Pastor. Yet in my continued burning pursuit to know Christ more, I had to forget, let go all of the above that I might attain more of what Christ has for me. The above things that were once gain to me, I count loss for increased intimacy with Christ. Am I knocking titles and accomplishments? No. But when titles and accomplishments become an end to my progression in Christ, if it becomes a hindrance to further growth and maturity in Him, I will gladly forget, let go of, that I might be one with Him! Do I ever miss or think about what I gave up to continue my pursuit of Christ? Yes. I miss the fellowship of my friends and co-laborers, some who are afraid to step beyond mediocrity in Christ for fear of losing their titles and positions. The gifts of the afore mentioned titles and offices are still in me. The only thing I've actually lost is the recognition of a selected few. And that loss is dung, worthless, incomparable to the Excellency of attaining a relational knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord!
MEDITATIONS FOR LEADERS IN THE MAKING (FORGIVENESS) ". . . Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." - Luke 23:34
Even on the cross Jesus offered up a prayer of mercy unto the Father for His accusers. God is just even in judgment. On the surface you would think Jesus’ reason for asking the Father to forgive His executioners was simply because His purpose in coming was to die in our place that we might be reconciled back to God. But it goes much deeper than that.
Jesus asked for forgiveness on their behalf because they really didn’t know what they had done. The Roman soldiers didn’t know He was the Christ, God of everything seen and unseen. To them god was one of many statues they gave honor to for atmospheric occurrences they couldn’t explain, and victory in battle. The crowd that yelled "crucify Him, crucify Him" were following the instructions of the religious leaders who they believed to be the true guides in matters concerning Jehovah.
The scribes and Pharisees who knew the law of Moses and the writings of the prophets, did not know that the man they sentence to death was their long awaited Messiah. They didn’t have Jesus executed because they wanted to kill the promised Messiah! They didn’t know His birthplace was Bethlehem Euphrates of a virgin, they thought He was born in Nazareth, a product of fornication. They didn’t realize that He was the one Moses said would be raised up from among them as a prophet like unto him who would raise the dead, heal the sick, open blind eyes and give speech to the dumb. How could they, the keepers of the sacred Word of God, have missed all the signs and proof of Jesus’ identity? Envy, insecurity and fear.
They were so envious of Jesus’ popularity with the multitudes that they feared losing their preeminence over the people—that they would no longer be sought after. They feared the end of their authority as the experts on God among the people, so they conspired and plotted His demise. If they could have overcome their envy and fear, they would have been stirred to use their skills of research and study to discover that He was indeed God’s Servant the prophet Isaiah spoke of. But, instead they became blind guides.
AS LEADERS IN THE MAKING you must come to a level of maturity and say, "Father forgive them for they know not what they do." There will be times in your press for attainment in Christ that those who for envy and fear for self-preservation and importance in the eyesight of people will come against the anointing of Christ on your life. Friendships will be severed at the command of insecure religious officials. But like Jesus, you must look beyond their attacks and understand the reason for their actions, and become a healing balm of prayer to the Father on their behalf.
MEDITATIONS FOR LEADERS IN THE MAKING (PLEASING THE FATHER) ". . . for I (Jesus) do always those things that please him (Father)." - John 8:29 Sometimes the flesh justifies our lack of faith in pleasing the Father by reminding us that it was easier for Jesus than us to please the Father because #1 - Jesus was God manifested in the flesh (John 1:1, 14); #2 - His nature wasn’t distorted by sin (2 Cor. 5:21); and #3 - He was omniscience (Ps. 139:1-10; Heb. 4:13, 14).
Though Jesus was man, He was still God. And as God He had authority over everything that existed because everything seen and unseen was created by Him and for Him. Nothing could occur without His permission. As God, He was free of sin and its penalty. His conception was a Holy conception, different from yours and mine. And, He was omniscience. He knew everything that was going to happen before it happened. He knew the thoughts and intent of man and all those in His environment. He knew the outcome of every situation and circumstance. So it was easy to please the Father! He had all the inside information. Sure, there was some struggle in His humanity, but being divine was a big, big, plus!
If we try to please the Father in our flesh, we will come up short every time. But if we seek to please the Father through faith in the finished work of Christ we will accomplish our goal.
We’re not God, but the Spirit of God dwells within us. And upon our submission to Him, He will lead and guide us in the path that is pleasing to the Father. Though our nature had been distorted by sin, we stand before the Father sinless because of the redemptive work of Christ on Calvary. By faith in Christ’s victory over sin, sin no longer have dominion over us. We can resist sin every time we submit ourselves to the Lord. And when we do sin, Jesus becomes our advocate, and in our earnest and sincere repentance, He cleanses us from all sin. And thirdly, we’re not omniscient, but the Lord Jesus whom we represent on the earth is! And He reveals those deep and secret things to His servants when warranted to carry out His purposes.
Therefore, as LEADERS IN THE MAKING, we can like Jesus, do those things that pleases the Father because Christ has manifested His Spirit in us and through us to continue the work He began. MEDITATIONS FOR LEADERS IN THE MAKING (VALIDATION) ". . . . . many believed in his name when they saw the miracles which he did. But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men. And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man." - John 2:23b-25
A danger to our effectiveness as Leaders is to look for validation from men.
In the above scriptures, many believed on Jesus because of the miracles He did. But Jesus did not commit or entrust Himself to their validation of who He was because He knew the fickleness of man. Such as the seventy, who became His disciples after witnessing His miracles and afterwards, disassociated themselves from Him when He said, "he that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him." However, their rejection of Him did not change the fact that He was, and still is the Son of God and that He was sent by God to give His life that we might have eternal life.
When the Pharisees declared Him not to be the Son of God because He lacked validation of two witnesses, Jesus told them they erred because their judgment was based on flesh, what they thought, what their colleagues thought, what the town people of Nazareth thought, perhaps what His own brothers and sisters thought. The validation of who He is was not determined by man. His validation was of the Spirit, and since Jesus is God, He is His first witness, and His second witness was God the Father for it was the Father who sent Him. Proof that the Father sent Him is the power and authority He exhibited over sin, sickness, death, the elements, and all the works of the devil.
As LEADERS IN THE MAKING, our validation of son ship and ministry is not based on the testimony of men either. Not our parents, siblings, co-workers, not even our pastors or other Christian leaders can validate whether or not we are called of God. Our validation is based on the testimony of God. Romans 8:16 says that the "Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God." The Holy Ghost, is witness number one. Jesus is our second witness for as the Father sent Him, He has sent us and have given us the ministry of reconciliation (John 17:18; 2 Cor. 5:19-20). And the proof that He has sent us is the manifestation of His power in our life over sin and all the works of the devil. meditations FOR LEADERS: When It Looks like You’ve Failed “And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided Him, saying, He saved others; let Him save Himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God.” – Luke 23:35 When Jesus hung and died on the cross He looked like He had failed in His mission. One of His disciples had betrayed Him while the others (except John) hid in fear . No one could be found to speak up for His innocence, no one came forward to testify of the healing they and their loved one received at His touch. There were women weeping at the foot of the cross, believing their hope was lost, and injustice had scored another victory. It’s all over His followers thought; the time, monies, travels, everything they invested in Jesus and His ministry was a loss. That’s what it looked like, but that’s not what it was! What looked like failure to the carnal eye was actually Success! The cross was the means by which the Success of His ministry came. AS LEADERS IN THE MAKING there will be times when after you’ve followed the instructions of the Holy Ghost, gone where you were sent, did what you were prompted to do; your mission will look like failure. Your bank account may be empty, friends will become few and there will be none to encourage you. Everything will look like a loss. Remember, what looks like failure to the carnal eye is success to the spiritual eye. Apostle Paul said God took the foolishness (what looked like failure) of the cross to confound the wise (Greeks: great thinkers and learners of men), and confuse the Jews (a stumbling block). Why? So no flesh (including you and I) should glory in His presence (1 Corinthians 1:17-29). TO GOD IS THE GLORY! MEDITATIONS FOR LEADERS: A MAN’S FOE “And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.” – Matthew 10:36 Painful thought, but true. As Leaders in the Making you too will experience the above statement. Having gone through it myself more than twice, I didn’t realize the blessing till the third time around. Household isn’t necessarily the members of your family, though sometimes it is. Household can also represent your place of business, your own company, group or fellowship. Take David for instance. His foe was his own son, Absalom (household), and his trusted counselor, Ahithophel (household –Kingdom/job/workplace). Remember Joseph? His foes were his ten brothers. Jesus had a foe, Judas. And it is from watching how Jesus interacted with His foe that I get a glimpse of God’s divine plan accomplished through household foes. Since Jesus is omniscience, he knew from the beginning Judas would betray Him yet, He never exposed him to the others. He never mistreated Judas, either. He continued to love him, respect him and acknowledge him as His disciple whom He chose. In God’s divine wisdom, Judas played a crucial part in putting into motion the plan of our salvation when he betrayed Jesus to the religious authorities. Whatever Judas’ reasons for his betrayal (and theologians give us numerous reasons), his weapon of betrayal did not stop the purpose of God. Just as Joseph’s brothers couldn't stop the fulfillment of Joseph’s dreams, nor could Absalom end David’s rule as King of Israel. Each of them were incorporated into bringing forth the plans and purposes of God. I’ve learned not to fret, fume and become emotionally distraught over household foes. Instead I emulate Jesus by demonstrating love, respect and friendship. I don’t bear my innermost thoughts, but I do leave the door open for repentance and reconciliation. I rest in Jesus for I have experienced the truth that what Satan means for evil, God uses for good to them who are called according to His purpose. MEDITATIONS FOR LEADERS: FOXES HAVE HOLES. . . . . . . . ". . . The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay His head." - Matthew 8:20 I wondered what the scribe thought of Jesus' response to his statement of wanting to follow Him wherever He went. The occupation of a scribe was a very esteemed position that provided a very comfortable lifestyle. Perhaps he thought serving as a scribe of Jesus would add to his already impressive resume. Whatever disillusions he may have had ended with Jesus’ reply to the reality of what was expected if he wanted to truly follow Him. Jesus’ ministry was mobile, not stationary. His mission was to go wherever the Father sent Him, wherever the gospel needed to be heard. From Galilee to Cana, Capernaum, North East Judea, Samaria, Nain (where he raised the widow’s only son), Gadara (cures two demon possessed men), Gennesaret, Tyre, Sidon, Decapolis, Dalmanutha, Caesarea Philippi, Bethany, Perea, and Ephraim. For Jesus and His disciples, a place to lay their head was not always a warm comfortable bed. Sometimes it was in a cold wet boat at sea, a campsite in the wilderness, or in the open desert. He once abode in Simon the leper’s house and Zacchaeus, the tax collector’s home; places a scribe would not be comfortable at. AS LEADERS IN THE MAKING our ministry through the risen Christ must also be mobile. Our mission is to go wherever the Spirit of God sends us. Following Jesus will include ministering in places that reek with alcohol, smoke and stench. There will be assignments that will take us to places of poverty, illness and degradation. Not every assignment will be a place of warmth and comfort. Yet the gospel must be presented to every soul we encounter. The only thing that is unchanging and fixed in our walk with Jesus is His presence and His power to deliver and set free those who receive our message and accept Jesus as their Savior and Lord. MEDITATIONS FOR LEADERS: PROOFING FOR MINISTRY “And immediately the Spirit driveth Him into the wilderness. And He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan;” – Mark 1:12, 13a The time between Jesus’ baptism and the beginning of His public ministry, He spent forty days in the wilderness being tried by Satan. It was in this time slot that Jesus was proved ready to begin His ministry. His defeat of every temptation sent by Satan showed that He knew who He was (If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread); He knew His relationship with the Father was secure (If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.); and He was totally committed to pleasing the Father (All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. - Matt. 4:4-10). In the time between our baptism and the beginning of our public ministry we too will be driven into the wilderness to be tried by Satan. Proofing may not take place in an actual desert wilderness; it may be at home among unsaved family members, or the place of employment surrounded by unscrupulous co-workers, and even more shocking, it could be the place of worship in the midst of carnal Christians. Regardless of the location, you will be tried in the same areas Christ was. You will be challenged to prove you are a Christian by stepping outside of God’s plan for your life; tempted to try God in your relationship with Him; and deceived into “selling out” to obtain what God has already promised if you seek Him first. The length of time we spend in the wilderness depends on how long it takes us to pass the test. Forty days was all Satan could handle in his testing of Jesus because Jesus was unmovable in His person and His relationship with the Father. He knew who He was, He knew the Father’s love for Him, and He was determined to please the Father at all cost. As Leaders in the Making we must stand firm in our belief in what God says about His acceptance of us through the blood of Jesus; rest in the truth of His word that no one can separate us from His love; and not allow anyone or anything to take His place as Lord and Savior in our life. It is then and only then can the Lord bring us to the forefront of public ministry.
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